Race starting gate



April 8, 194?l J. P. WHANN ETA. 2,418,807

RACE STARTING GATE Filed Sept. 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l /Z /a /60 /a /60 Jnvcntols:

April 8, 1947. J. P. wHANN ETAL RACE STARTING GATE 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept. 9

Bnventors /Y/Y and Patented Apr. 1947 I -Jesse P.v Whann Starting GateRACE STARTING GATE and Norman Angeles, Calif., lassignorsv 'to Corpor C,Harris, Los Puett Electrical ation, BeverlyHills, Calif.,

` va corporation of California Application september 9, `1941 `,serm1No.

11 claims; (o1. A'11s-15.5),

to improvements in start'- gates, therebygiving al1 of the racinglanimals opportunity for an even start. The present invention is of thevapplication which 2,309,952, February 2, 1943.

It is an 4object of a continuationA in part becamey Patent No.

the race improperly started by mechanism.

It is an object bers due to gravity, and as explained hereinafter in thespecication, from the operative position in which it is held bymagnetism.

A further object of the invention is to provide starting gate structurehaving latch means they movable engagement -an armature or keeperforming part of member. However, it i'sggtnot necessary toadjust thegate operative position. gate means results in Thereafter, closing ofthe latching of the engagement on the other gate element.

Avfurther object of the invention is to provide A further object of theinvention is to provide a starting gate device having a pair of gateelements to close each starting stall of operating between frame orsupporting structure so that the gate elements may be separately andindividually latched in closed position merely by swinging them fromopen position toward closed position as there being no care required inelement into a prescribed cooperative relation.

Further objects z 3 tion will be brought out in the following part ofthe specification.

trative purposes only:

lng our invention, with a central portion of the starting gate structureremoved, and with the closures or gate elements shown in both closed andopened positions. Y, Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view, the parts insection being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken as indicated by the line 3-3of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary plan view corresponding to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper part of a startingstall, to show an alternative form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated bythe line 5-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'I is an enlarged fragmentary section taken as indicated by theline 'I-1 of Fig. 5.

' Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational View showing the manner in which aform of our improved latch may be mounted on the meeting vertical edgesof two cooperating starting gates.

The starting gate device I shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a frameworkor structure II which may be made up ofwelded tubular parts. Thisstructure II has pairs of Wheels I2 at the ends thereof whereby it maybe rolled on and off of the track. The structure I I provides a.plurality of stalls I3 defined by padded substantially parallelpartitions or walls I4. The term framework in the claims includes all ofthe stationary parts of the starting gate. 'The framework thereforincludes the overhead structure II, the stanchions or the verticalsupports forming part of the parutions, in fact this term is used todistinguishthe swinging doors, from the other parts of the gate, thedoors being the movable parts and the remainder of the gate being thestationary part.

To close or obstruct the `forward portions of the stalls I3, gate meansI are provided, such Referring to the drawings which are for illus-`Fig. 1 is a, face view of a starting gate embodygate means preferablycomprising a pair of gates n or closures I6 hinged on vertical axes orpivots so that they will 4be swingable between an open position I6a. inwhich they are substantially parallel as best shown in Fig. 2, and aclosed position I6b wherein their side edges farthest from theirvertical pivots are adjacent to each other. Whether the closures lie `indiagonal planes or are at an angle of 180 to each other is a matf ter ofchoice as both arrangements are well known in this art as is illustratedin the hereinafter referred to Puett et al. patent, and the patent toComfort et al. No. 1,870,768, dated August 9, 1932, and the MacksoudPatent No. 2,319,- 420, May 8, 1943 (Figures 4 and 5).

As shown in Fig. 1, the gates or closures I6 may be fabricated fromsteel tubing, with a tube or bar I8 disposed vertically at the outeredge thereof to provide a shaft or axle element engageable by bearingsI9 in which the gates I6 maybe swung between opened and closedpositions. 4vThe lower portion of each gate IE may carry an opaquepadded wall 20, and above the wall 20,

1 a screen 2I may be disposed in the gate substantially in alignmentwith the heads of the horses and the jockeys. On a lateral frame member22 extending above the forward portions of the stalls I3 there are latchmeans 23, preferably arranged on the central vertical planes 4 of thestalls I3. Each gate I6 has a structural part 24 thereof carrying anengagement member 25, and the structural parts 24 and the engagementmembers 25 are so positioned that when the gates I6 are swung from openposition I6a .to closed position IBb, 4the structural parts 24 willcarry the engagement members 25 into latched engagement with cooperatingparts of the latch means 23 in the manner hereinafter described relativeto Figs. 3 and 4. The structural parts 24 may be arms bent laterally orextending laterally from the upper ends of the shaft portions I8 of thegates I6, in such angular relation to the planes defined by the gates I6that when the gates I6 are moved into closed position, as shown at I6bof Fig. 2, the arms 24 will lie substantially parallel to the framemember 22. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch means 23 comprises anelectromagnet 21 having at one end thereof a split clamp 28 whereby itmay be secured to the frame member 22. At the forward or leftwardportion of the electro-magnet 21 there are brackets 26 carrying ahorizontal hinge pin 29 to swingably support a keeper or armature 30which forms part of an engagement member 3l of the gate latohingmechanism. When the electro-magnet, 21 is energized, the engagementmember 3| will be held in a substantially horizontal plane and when theelectromagnet 21 is de-energized, the weight of the armature 30 willswing it into the released position indicated by dotted lines 3l. Theengagement member 3i is characterized by yieldability .ment members 36positioned so that when the 'gates IB are swung into closed position,the engagement members 36 will be moved in under the leftward portion ofthe engagement member 3I, lifting the yieldable latch dogs 32 andpassing 'there beyond so that these latch dogs 32 may drop intothepositions in which they are shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to engage thefront shoulders of the engagement members 36, it being understood thatpreviously to these acts, the electro-magnet 21 has been energized sothat the engagement members 3I are thereby held in horizontal positionby the magnetic ux acting within the armatures 30.

Thel leftward force exerted by the engagement member 36 against thelatch dog 32 tends to rotate the engagement member 3I in clockwisedlrection, but such rotation is prevented by the holding power of theelectro-magnet 2l. However, should a horse in a stall exert an excessiveforce against the associated gates I6, the force applied through theengagement member 36 to the dog 32 will rotate the engagement member 3|against the holding force of the electro-magnet 21, rotating the member3l into its dotted line position 3l' and permitting the engagementmember 36 to pass leitwardly from engagement 'with the latch shouldersof the engagement member 3I provided by the dogs 32. In the normaloperation of the starting gate device, the electro- Y itheclcsing of'thereof in engagement sisting, as'shown in Fig.

.ment member' 45 is yieldable fthe diagonal or .deenergized, so theengagement members 3| will simultaneously swing into released position3|' and the gates I6 may be then swung by their associated springs 31,Fig. 1 into opened position.

As previously mentioned herein, it is customary to energize theelectro-magnet'Zl prior to any of the gates I6. Should this energizationof the electro-magnet 21 fail to move any engagement; member 3| tolatching position, the movement of on'e of the arms 24 toward theposition will bring the associated end portion 33 thereof intoengagement with a iinger or plate 39 which projects outwardly from theengagement member 3|, thereby moving the member 39 in rightwarddirection so as to swing the armature 30 further into the magnetic iieldof the electro-magnet 21. so that the magnetism may then act to draw thearmature 39 against the lower face of the electro-magnet 21.

In Fig. I show the upper portion of gates 40 in closed position, withthe meeting edge bars 4t as shown also in Fig. 7. One of the gates4|l`has a bar 42 extending rearward therefrom, this bar 42 being bracedby the member 43, if desired. To cooperate with the gate 49 through theuse of the bar 42, latch means 44 are provided, such latch means con- 6,of an engagement member 45 'supported by the extremity of the bar member4l pivotally supported' on the frame member 22 of the structure by meansof abracket 48, which bracket 48 likewise carries an electro-magnet 49for cooperation with a keeper or armature 5|) which projects upwardlyacross the front face of the electro-magnet 49 at the rearward portionof the engagement member 41.

In this form of the invention the magnetically held engagement member 41has a latching shoulder 5| which is rigidly held in position when the'electro-magnet 49 isv energized. 'The engageso that as the end of thebar 42 moves toward the position in which it is shown, Fig. 6, theforward end of the engagement member 45 will ride over and pass by .theforward portion of the engagement member 41 to bring the latchingshoulder 52 thereof into cooperative relation with the latching shoulder5|, as shown.

'As shown in Figs. 5 and 7,` the vertical member 4| of' the gate 4|)cooperating with the latch means 44 has thereon a locking plate ormember 53 for the remaining gate 40. This member 53 has therein a notch54 to' receive `the end 55 of the member 56 mounted on the other gate4|). The members 53 and 56 may be secured in the position shown by useof welds 51. The'operation of the gate is preferably connected asfollows:Y The right hand gate 49 is first swung in closed position inwhich it is shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and the left hand gate y4|) is swunginward to "bring the members 53 and 56 into adjacent relation owitheachother and to carry the latching element 45 into latching engagementwith an engagementrmember 41 held inoperative position by Ithe magneticilux of the energized electro-magnet 49. The right hand gate 49 will beheld in closed position by the locking or holding means of the left handgate 40 represented by the notched plate 53.

When the electro-magnet 49 is deenergized, the engagement/member 41 willrotate inanticlockwise direction into the position thereof' shown bydotted lines 41', removing the latching thereof shown in full lines'shoulder 5| tion .relative to the meeting edges l1 of the gates as tocooperate with an engagement member 6| carried by a plate 62 supportedon the other gate. The engagement member 6| is swingable on a pivot 63and comprises an armature 64 lying on one side of the pivot| 63 andahook portion 65 on the side of the pivot 66 being employed toreleasably hold the arma'- ture 64'and to thereby releasably maintainthe latch member 6| in operative position.

cuit The engagement member 59 is supported by a pin 61 so that it mayyield downwardly against the action of a leaf spring 68 to permit .thehooked forward end 69 thereof to pass the hooked portion 65 of theengagement member 6|, when the gates 6 are swung so as to bring themeeting edges |1 thereof into engagement. Release of this latch means islikewise accomplished by merely deenergizing the electro-magnet 66 sothat the armature 64 may swing downward, thereby raising the hookedportion 65 out of engagement with the hooked end 69 of the member 59.

It is to be understood that the electrical cirarrangements may besimilar to that shown in Figure 5 of our Patent No. 2,309,952, patentedFebruary 2, 1943, asl such circuits are now in common use for startinggates, and as shown by other prior art patents such as Puett et al. No.2,232,675, patented February 18, 1941, and now eissue Patent No. 22,203,patented October 13,

' structure:

r (1) The armature 30 is mounted on the framework and said armatureswings in a vertical plane.

(2) The armature is substantially horizontal when held by the magnet,see full line position of said armature in Figure 3.

(3) The armature swings by gravity when released by the magnet andassumes an inclined position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

(4) The arm means or structural part; 24 is rigidly mounted with regardto the door, and is mounted on the pivot of the door.

(5) Each arm means has a free end with a surface adapted to be contactedby a corresponding surface of the armature, to hold said arm of itsrigid relation with the which may occur should an ex;v Aexerted againstthe gate means' held by the latch means 44.

63, an electro-magnet of the armature that engages the surface on thepart 36 which forms part of the end of the arm means 24.

(7) The arm means of each door extends substantially in a horizontaldirection.

(8) The arm means extends substantially parallel with the longitudinalaxis of the gate and transverse to the partitions when its door is inclosed position.

(9) The armature of each gate swings in a vertical plane that issubstantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of thegate andsubstantially parallelto the partitions.

(10) The front face IUI ofV the gate is deilned substantially by a planepassing through the vertical supports 100 and the horizontal support orlateral frame member 22. It will be noted that this face IUI is parallelto the longitudinal axis of the gate as seen in Figure 2.

By longitudinal axis is meant a line extending from the front wheelsupporting axle to the rear wheel supporting axle.

We claim'as our invention:

1. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of gatespivotally supported at the forward part of said starting gate, saidgates being swingable from a closed position in which said gates areangularly positioned with respect to each other and with their outerends adjacent to each other to an open position in which said gates arein substantial parallelism; latch: means for releasably latching saidgates in closed position,

said latch means including a latch element on one gate,`a latch leverengageable with said latch element but movable to release said latchelement, said latch lever and latch element comprising a pair oflatching members including a plurality of pivoted parts, one of saidmembers being provided with yieldable means wherebiT upon contact of onemember with the other member duringmovement of said gates to closedposition, said yieldable means permits movement of one of said membersrelative to the other to allow said members to move past each other,magnetic means for holding said latch leverin latching engagement. withsaid latch element, whereby upon deenergizatlon of said magnetic meanssaid magnetic means will allow said latch lever to release said latchelement for permitting said gates to open, and means for moving saidgates to open position.

2. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of gatespivotally supported at the forward part of said starting gate, saidgates being swingable from a closed position in which said gates areangularly positioned with respect to each other and with their outerends adjacent to each other .to an open position in which said gates arein substantial parallelism; latch means for releasably latching saidgates in closed position, said latch means including a latch element onone gate, a latch lever on the other gate engageable with said latchelement but movable to release said 'latch element, said latch lever andlatch element comprising a pair ,of latching members, said latch elementand said latchlever being pivotally mounted, one of said members beingprovided with yieldable means whereby upon contact of one member withthe other member during movement of said gates to closed position, saidyieldable means permits movement of one of said members relative to theother to allow said members to move past each other, magnetic means onsaid other gate for holding said latch lever in latching engagement withsaid latch element, whereby upon deenergization of said magnetic meanssaid magnetic means will allow said latch lever to release said latchelement for permitting said gates to open, and means for moving saidgates to open position.

3. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of gatespivotally supported at the forward part of said starting gate, saidgates being swingable from a closed position in ywhich said gates areangularly positioned with respect to each other and with their outerends adjacent to each other to an open position in which said gates are`in substantial parallelism; latch means for releasably latching saidgates in closed position, said latch means including a latch element onone gate, a latch lever engageable with said latch element but movableto release said latch element, said latch lever and latch elementcomprising a pair of latching members, said latch lever being pivotallymounted, one of saidv members being provided with yieldablemeans'whereby upon contact of one member with the other member duringmovement of said gates to closed position, said yieldable means permitsmovement of one of said members relative to the other to allow saidmembers to move past each other, magnetic means mounted on a stationarypart of said starting gate and supporting said latch lever for holdingsaid latch lever in latching engagement with said latch element, wherebyupon deenergization of said magnetic means said magnetic means willallow said latch lever to release said latch element. for permittingsaid gates to open, and means for moving said gates to open position.

4. In a race. starting gate, the combination of a pair of gatespivotally supported at the forward part of said starting gate, saidgates being swingable from a closed position in which said gates areangularly positioned with respect to each other to an open position inwhich said s gates are in substantial parallelism, latch means able torelease said latch element, said latch element and latch levercomprising a pair of latching members, one of said members beingprovided with yieldable means whereby upon contact of one member withthe other member during movement of said gates to closed position, saidyieldable means permits movement of one of said members relative to theother to allow said members to move past each other, magnetic means onthe same gate as said latch lever and located adjacent to said armaturefor magnetically attracting said armature for holding said latch leverin latching engagement with said latch element, and whereby upondeenergization of said magnet means, said latch lever will release saidlatch element for permitting said gates to open, and means for movingsaid gates to open position.

5. A starting gate having a, superstructure including a plurality ofpartitions, a pair of doors between two adjacent partitions, said doorshaving pivot means and being swingable from a closed position whereinthe side edges of said pair of doors farthest from said pivot means aread` jacent to each other, to an open position where the doors aresubstantially parallel to each other, arm means on one door having afree end thereof spaced rearwardly from the adjacent edges releasingsaid armature and spaced horizontally to one side of said pivot means,latch means for releasably latching said doors in closed position, saidlatch means 1ncluding a latch element on said arm means at its free end,a solenoid provided with ansarmature,'means attaching said solenoidincluding said armature directly to a stationary part of tn contact saidsuperstructure, said means includ-ing means pivotally mounting saidarmature, said armature being heavier on 'one side of said pivot than onthe other side thereof and being biased to released position by gravity,and said armature having means including asurface contacting said latchelement at the free end of said arm means, said solenoid when energizedand with said doors in closed position serving to hold said armature andsaid latch element, and when deenergized whereby said armature moves bygravity to released position, thereby releasing one of said doors.

6. A starting gate having a framework including a plurality ofpartitions, a pair of doors between two adjacent partitions, said doorshaving pivot means and being swingable from a closed position whereinthe side edges of said pair of doors farthest from said pivot means areadjacent to each other, to an open position where the doors aresubstantially parallel to each other, arm means on one door having 'afree'end, means attaching said arm means only to said door pivot meanswhereby said arm means extends substan-y tially parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the gate andtransverse to said partitions when thedoor is in closed position, latch means for releasably latching saiddoors in closed position including: av solenoid provided with anarmature, means attaching said solenoid including said armature directlyto said framework, said means said armature being heavier includingmeans pivotally mounting said armature, said armature being heavier onone side of said pivot than `on the other side and being thus biased toreleased position by gravity, the free end of said arm means having alatching surface and said armature having means including a latchingsurface adapted to contact said surface rst named, said solenoid whenenergzedl and with said door in closed position serving to hold saidarmature, withl said armature surface in contact with said arm surfacefor holding said door in closed position and when deenergized releasingsaid amature whereby said armature moves by gravity to released positionthereby releasing said arm surface and-said door, whereby said door maybe moved to its open position.

7. A starting gate having a framework including a plurality ofpartitions, a pair of doors between two adjacent partitions, said doorshaving pivot means and being swingable from a closedposition wherein theside edges of said pair cf doors farthest from said pivot means areadjacent to each other, to an open position where the doors aresubstantially parallel to each other, arm means on one door having afree end, means attaching said arm means only to said door pivot meanswhereby said Yarm means extends substantially parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the gate and transverse to said partitions whenvthe door is in closed position, latch means for releasably latching saiddoors in closed position including: a solenoid provided with anarmature, means attaching said solenoid including said armature directlyto said framework, said means 'including means pivotally mounting saidarmature, whereby said armature swings in a vertical plane that issubstantially transverse to the loning a latching surface and saidarmature lhav' ing means including a latching surface adapted sai'dsurface lrst named, said solenoid when energized and with said door inclosed position serving to hold said armature, with said armaturesurface in contact with said arm surface for holding said door in closedposition and when deenergized releasing said armature whereby -saidarmature moves by gravity to released position thereby releasing saidarm surface and said door, whereby said door may be moved to its openposition. Y

8. A starting gate having a framework including a plurality ofpartitions, a pair of doors between two adjacent partitions, said doorshaving'plvot means and being swingable from a closed position whereinthe 'side edges of said pair of doors farthest from said pivot means areadjacent to each other,'to an open position where the doors aresubstantially parallel to each other, arm means on one door having afree end, means attaching said arm means only to said door pivot meanswhereby said yarm means extends substantially-parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the gate and transverse to said partitions when thedoor is in closed position, latch means for releasably latching saiddoors in cluding: a solenoid provided with an armature, means attachingsaid solenoidincluding said armature directly to said framework, saidmeans including means pivotally mounting said armature, on one side ofsaid pivot than on the other side and being thus biased to releasedposition by gravity, the free end of said arm means having a latchingsurface and said armature having means including a latching surfaceadapted to contact-said surface first named, said solenoid whenenergized and with said 'door in closed position serving to hold saidarmature,

to rleased position thereby releasing said armv surface and said door.whereby said door may be moved to its open position, said arm rr-eans ofeach pair of doors extending in a straight line that is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the gate when said pair of doors is in closedposition.

9. A starting gate having a vframework including a pair of partitions, apair of doors between two adjacent partitions, said doors having pivotmeans and being swingable from a closed position wherein the edges ofsaid pair of doors farthest from said pivot means are adjacent to eachother to an open position where the doors are substantially parallel toeach otherarm means on each door each of said arm means having a freeend. means attaching said arm means only to said door pivot means, latchmeans for releasably latching said doors in closed position including:

closed positions intudinal axis of the gate and parallel thereto, a pairof doors between each two adjacent partitions, said doors of each pairhaving pivot means and being swingable from a closed position whereinthe side edges of said pair of doors farthest from said pivot means areadjacent to each other, to an open position where the doors aresubstantially parallel to each other,arm means on one door of each pair,said arm means having a free end. means attaching said arm means to said4door pivot means only whereby said arm means having a.v frameworkincluding a plurality of partitions, said frameworkhaving a front faceextending along the longiextends substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gate and transverse to said partitions when the dooris in closed position, latch means for releasably latching said doors inclosed position including: a solenoid provided with an armature, meansattaching said solenoid including said armature directly to saidframework, the said armatures and solenoids of all of said doors beingmounted on a line which is at least parallel to the front face of thegatel and which extends no further rearwardly than the front face of thegate, said means .including means pivotally mounting said armature ofeach solenoid. said armature being heavier on one side of said pivotthan on the other side and being thus biased to released position bygravity, the free end of said arm means having a latching surface andsaid armature having means including a latching surface adapted tocontact said surface virst named, said solenoid when energized and withsaid door in closed position` serving to hold said armature, with saidarmature surface in contact with said arm surface for holding said doorin closed position and when deenergized releasing said armature wherebysaid armature moves by gravity to released position thereby releasingsaid arm surface and said door, whereby said door may be moved to itsopen position.

,11. A startnggate having a framework including a plurality otJpartitions, said framework having a front face extending along thelongitudinal axis of the gate and parallel thereto, a plurality of pairsof doors, each pair of doors being adapted when closed. to close thespace between two adjacent partitions, said doors having pivot means andbeing swingable from a closed position wherein the side edges of saidpairs of doors-'farthest from said pivot means are adjacent to eachother, to an open position where the doors are substantially parallel toeach other, arm means on said doors, said arm means having free ends andeach of said arm means having an amature contacting surface adjacent itsfree end, latch means, said arm means and latching surface forming partof said latch means, said latch means further including: a plurality ofsolenoids pro, vided with armatures, means attaching said solenoidsincluding said armatures directly to said framework, said solenoidsbeing mounted on a line which is at least as far forward as said frontface of said gate, said attaching means including means pivotallymounting said armatures, said armatures being heavier on one side ofsaid pivot means than on the other side thereof and being thus biased toreleased position by gravity, and said latching means further includingsaid armatures and surfaces thereon adapted to engage said surfaces onsaid arm means, said solenoids when energized and with said pairs of,doors in closed position serving to hold the surfaces of said armaturesin contact with the surfaces of said arm means, and when deenergizedreleasing said armatures whereby said armatures move by gravity toreleased position thereby releasing said pairs of doors.

JESSE P. WHAN'N. NORMAN C. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,743,875 Bland Jan. 14, 19302,164,213 Levenson June 27, 1939 2,193,257 Steele Mar. 12, 19402,232,675 Puett et al Feb. 18, 1941 597,984 Johnstone Jan. 25, 18981,290,110 Deatrick Jan. 7, 1919 406,629 Coulter July 29, 1889 731,347Escude June 16,1903

' 1,989,204 Levenson Jan. 29; 1935 674,975 Monlezun May 28, 19011,949,850 Willard Mar. 6, 1934 2,200,504 Keen May 14, 1940 2,309,952Harris et al Feb. 2, 1943 2,108,287 Kellum Feb. 15, 1938 2,066,277 KeilDec. 29, 1936 848,256 Maaskant Mar. 26, 1907 2,319,420 Macksoud May 18,1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 701,038 France Ja n. 5, 1931508,183 England June 27, 1939 27,873 England of 1912

